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What the painting shows
Old Man on His Deathbed by Klimt is an 1899 oil painting showing an elderly man lying at rest. The man’s head sits in profile against a pale pillow, turned upward toward the upper right corner of the canvas. You can see his closed eyes, a lined forehead, and a full grey beard blending into the fabric of his clothing.
Klimt uses muted earth tones for the face, contrasting warm golden browns against the cool, chalky whites and greys of the bedding. Thin, loose brushstrokes surround the figure, giving the linen and background an unfinished texture. In the lower left corner, Klimt signed and dated the work. It stands apart from more decorative portraits by focusing directly on a private human moment.
The story behind it
The painting dates to 1899, though some records list it as 1889. Klimt painted the work during a period of transition in his career, before the decorative gold patterns of his later years. Unlike his formal society portraits, this piece is small, measuring just 30.4 by 44.8 cm.
Klimt chose not to surround the subject with symbols or ornate backgrounds. The work records the physical reality of aging and death directly on the canvas.
Where to see it
You can find Old Man on His Deathbed in the collection of the Belvedere in Vienna. The museum holds an extensive group of Klimt’s works, and you can plan a visit with our guide to where to see Klimt paintings.
Questions about Old Man on His Deathbed
Where is Old Man on His Deathbed by Klimt?
Old Man on His Deathbed by Klimt is in the Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. The Belvedere houses this small 1899 oil painting as part of its permanent collection of works by Gustav Klimt. Visitors to the Austrian capital can view the artwork alongside other significant paintings from Klimt's early and middle artistic periods.
How big is Old Man on His Deathbed by Klimt?
Old Man on His Deathbed by Gustav Klimt measures 30.4 centimeters high by 44.8 centimeters wide. This modest format reflects the work's nature as an intimate, personal study rather than a grand exhibition piece. The horizontal canvas gives Klimt enough room to show the elderly subject resting in profile across a bed surrounded by pale drapery.
